mrkstvns

I would revise the G2SS to eliminate as many prohibitions as possible, and may even make many of them into REQUIREMENTS. For example, G2SS says that scouts under age 18 should not use power tools. In today's world, we use power tools. A man won't be a competent family man and homeowner if he can't do basic work around the house. A scout should: Demonstrate how to safely and appropriately use 3 different power saws: such as a jigsaw, a circular saw, and a table saw Demonstrate how to safely use 3 different power tools used to maintain landscaping: such as a lawnmower, chai

A few months back, MattR suggested tagging topics as a way to cope with the inability of the Forum to easily implement new sub-forums. I've been trying to be better about tagging content, but it's often frustrating to me because there are MANY cases where I would love to add some tags to a new topic, but the option to add tags is simply not there. Why is it that sometimes you can add tags, but often you can not? Is there some rubric that would help the poor Forum user to predict when tagging might be supported and when it won't? Is it only available for some Forums, but not others?

Yes. I hope he keep up the positive attitude. He's got over 5 years of potential leadership ahead of him. Lots of opportunity to earn some of those "above and beyond" awards, staff summer camp, do OA treks, and all the other opportunities that are too often overlooked. I wish him well. But "Bacon Ninja Warriors"??? ?

That's a great idea! I'm going to have to make a trip over to the local feed store to see what kind of bulk concentrates they sell. I sure do hate getting bitten like a pincushion!

Very sad news today about an adult who died while rafting on the Arkansas River with a group from Rocky Mountain High Adventure Base. The adult was a 42-year old scouter from the Capitol Area Council in Austin TX. Story: https://www.9news.com/article/sports/outdoors/man-on-boy-scout-rafting-trip-dies-after-falling-in-river/73-b975d955-f69b-40dc-805d-17179c4d9f40

A 12-year old scout in Maryland earned his Eagle rank... https://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-daugherty-eagle-scout-20160311-story.html Hmmm.

That does seem to be the consensus --- avoid spraying DEET on tent, sleeping bag, mosquito netting etc. as it damages synthetic materials. I found an interesting article on the REI website. It discusses most of the issues we've been talking about, plus it introduces another approach that I omitted: the idea of fogging an area (you could do this with a can of backyard repellant, or use one of the devices sold by REI to set up a "skeeter-free zone" in your campsite). Info: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/insect-repellents.html

BSA has been busy rolling out changes to its STEM-NOVA Award program, and that includes new awards for Venturing as well. In 2018, the new "Wade" award let scouts explore the wet and wild world of water, from the basics of the hydrologic cycle and water state changes, to the technology powering modern water treatment facilities, this award explores the science of water and the engineering needed to satisfy a thirsty world. In early 2019, three more NOVA awards rolled out: What a Life - Just about any aspect of life sciences is fair game for this award, including macrobiotic or

Don't matter to me if the tick is tiny or huge, I just really don't want to touch the gross little blood-suckers. Give me the tweezers or the tick-yanker tool any day of the summer camp!

What is "TL/USA"? Never heard of it...

Hmmm. I never thought of it as "in-charge". I always thought the term Scoutmaster implied one who had mastery of the skills and wisdom needed to successfully navigate the outdoor and advancement program. More along the lines of a teacher or mentor than an authoritarian figure. Like a young padawan following the teachings of the Jedi master....(but without light sabers, since those are not allowed by G2SS).

Generations of scouters have included tweezers in their first aid kits. It's a good general purpose gadget, and at this time of year, is often put to use removing ticks from scout or scouter alike. The only problem with the tweezers is that it's easy to oversqueeze or to pull too quickly, leaving the tick's head embedded under the skin. Small, inexpensive gadgets are available to make tick extraction easier and less prone to leaving head parts behind. See: https://www.amazon.com/Tick-Twister-Remover-Small-Large/dp/B00X7072HY/

Girl Scouts in Georgia are collecting used plastic shopping bags and weaving them into beds that they then give to the homeless. Helps people. Helps the environment. The story is here: http://www.fox5atlanta.com/good-day/georgia-girl-scout-troop-recycle-bags-in-beds-for-homeless

Looking for service project ideas? How about negotiating with terrorists to release a hostage? Or maybe tracking down cases of the deadly Ebola virus? Such things might not be approved activities in BSA, but according to this story about how scouting helps hold together the country in Central Africa, its par for the course in some parts of the world... See: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/big-in-peacekeeping-boy-scouts/590614/

Yep. Lots of natural repellants around. Some better than others. Interestingly, I saw a report that compared natural repellants to chemicals like DEET. They found that Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus was almost as effective as DEET. Report is here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151029101456.htm As an aside, they also found that Victoria Secret Bombshell perfume repels mosquitos ...

Well, if Mrs Q is going to hijack the "Pigs in Blankets" moniker for her cabbage rolls, I hope she will at least have the decency to skewer them and cook them over a campfire like any self-respecting Boy Scout would...

One way to build tighter bonds between the pack and troop is to involve more Boy Scouts as Den Chiefs for the cubs. Encourage Den Leaders to have a Den Chief and let the Scoutmaster know that your pack wants more Den Chiefs. Because scouts need positions of responsibility for rank advancement, it's usually easy to enlist them. They then become de facto emissaries between the pack and the troop...

Cub Scouts (and even some Boy Scouts) love sticking things in the fire. Instead of constantly admonishing them to stop playing around the fire, give them something useful to do --- like cook their own dinner. Nothing is easier to do on a campfire than roasting hot dogs and it's no big deal to up the game just slightly by making pigs in blankets! INGREDIENTS: 1 package of good quality hot dogs (Boars Head, Hebrew National, or maybe Johnsonville Bedda Chedda) 1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough Ketchup and mustard to taste DIRECTIONS Separate the triangles of

Yes. Spiders (all varieties) can be controlled using permethrin. Info about permethrin, its uses, and precautions can be found here: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PermGen.html

Nobody likes mosquitos. They bite, they annoy, and they can spread disease. They are also a persistent problem for scouts and anybody else who enjoys summer camping. Mosquitos are a part of the natural ecosystem and there's no way to completely avoid them. But there are ways to keep them off yourself. Here are a few strategies that scouts and scouters can use to help keep the mosquitos at bay this summer: Repellant / Bug Spray. Spray on mosquito repellant before you leave your tent in the morning and re-apply several times during the day because it will wear off as you sweat. Also be

Thank you, Ian! I had never heard of "The Dump" before reading your post. Googled it and found LOTS of interesting historical references around scouting. It's going to take me quite a while to peruse the collection. If other folks are also unfamiliar with the site, you can find it here: http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/

Boy Scouts spending the night in a Polynesian temple (called a "marae") were forced to run for their lives when the building went up in flames. Investigators say it was arson. The story: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/06/boy-scouts-forced-to-run-for-their-lives-after-fire-at-wellington-marae.html

Low unit numbers are cool. They imply permanence and solid roots. The low number says you have identity, while the high number says you're just another cog in the machine.

I was reading a post about Wood Badge and it occurred to me that patrols today are not quite like the patrols of yesteryear. In Wood Badge, traditional animals are used for the patrol name and emblem. Owls, Bears, Eagles, Beavers....these are the things of patrol names for Wood Badge (which allegedly takes its inspiration from B-P, Brownsea, and the earliest days of scouting). When I was a scout, things had changed only slightly. In the 70s, we still had a lot of animal name patrols, but I suspect it's because that was what the scout shop stocked for patches. My first troop mixed u

Wow! I had no idea it went on so long either. Guess I'll end up being one of those people Saltface describes, mumbling everything beyond "Day is done, gone the sun". Cheers!